Tracking the war with Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that Russia is annexing four regions of Ukraine.

Here are the latest developments:

Four regions of Ukraine, that are partially or almost completely occupied by Russia are being annexed by the Russian Federation.

It follows self-styled referendums in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, held between 23 and 27 September.

The so-called referendums were condemned as a sham by Ukraine and many western countries.

It is thought that the annexations will allow Russia to claim that continued Ukrainian counter-attacks on the four regions constitute an attack on sovereign Russian territory.

In an address to the Russian people, Mr Putin said his country had “various weapons of destruction” to defend Russia, and would “use all the means available to us”, adding: “I’m not bluffing.”

The annexations follow a “partial mobilisation” of about 300,000 Russian reservists.

Mr Putin has acknowledged mistakes in the call-up process, with some people who should not have been called up being sent to Ukraine.

Ukrainian troops have been pushing forward around Lyman in the east of the country, in recent days.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) says they have “likely nearly completed the encirclement of the Russian grouping” in the area and have cut critical Russian ground lines of communication.

Analysts say a defeat for Russia in Lyman would be a major set-back.

Russian forces have been trying to push forward in Bakhmut, to the south of Lyman, but reports suggest they have been repelled by Ukrainian troops.

The latest fighting follows a major Russian defeat in the east.

Ukraine says it recaptured 6,000 sq km (2,317 sq miles) of territory from Russia in early September, when it forced back Russian units in the Kharkiv region.

Russian troops withdrew from the key towns of Izyum and Kupiansk, saying that the retreat would allow its troops to “regroup”.

Both towns were major logistical hubs for Russian forces in Donbas.

Mr Putin has said that Russian forces were fighting for the “liberation” of Donbas, which broadly refers to Ukraine’s eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, where Russian-backed separatists held significant territory before the invasion.

On Friday, Ukrainian officials said at least 23 people had been killed in a Russian attack on a civilian convoy in the city of Zaporizhzhia.

Dozens more are reported to have been injured in the rocket attack as people were preparing to travel to Russian-occupied areas of the Zaporizhzhia region to pick up relatives and deliver humanitarian aid.

Ukraine has continued to attack Russian positions near Kherson, targeting Russian transportation and logistics facilities in the area.

Reports suggest Ukrainian troops have made gains at several locations on the Russian front line in recent weeks.

They have also attacked bridges, ferries and pontoons, attempting to make Russian positions on the west side of the Dnieper River unsustainable, and thereby force a withdrawal.

Also in the south, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has called for the demilitarisation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Russian and Ukrainian sources have accused each other of shelling close to the plant, which is Europe’s biggest nuclear facility.

Shelling continued on Wednesday, damaging one of the plant’s power units.

Russia’s military took over the power station in early March, but it is still being operated by Ukrainian staff.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appealed for more funding and equipment to retain the areas retaken from Russia.

Western shipments of weaponry are being used heavily by Ukrainian forces.

Early in the conflict Ukraine used primarily Warsaw Pact munitions, which they had been using for several decades.

But many units have now made the transition to Nato standard equipment, including artillery and ammunition.

Multiple launch rocket systems such as the US-made Himars have been used in both Kharkiv and Kherson, according to the ISW.

Mr Zelensky says: “Our main goal is to de-occupy our whole territory.”

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February, but Ukrainian forces retook large areas around Kyiv in early April after Russia abandoned its push towards the capital.

Areas in the west of the country, including Lviv, have seen missile attacks but no attempt by Russian forces to take and occupy ground.

The Russians have suffered heavy losses since the invasion began and significant quantities of Russian weaponry have also been destroyed or captured.

Reports /TrainViral/